TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government will introduce the Working for Workers Six Act, 2024, which would build on the previous five Working for Workers acts with a suite of proposed measures to protect the health and wellbeing of workers, bring more people into the skilled trades and keep costs down for Ontario workers.
In addition to previously announced proposed measures, including creating a new parental leave and long-term illness leave, expanded cancer coverage for firefighters and WSIB changes that will give more money back to Ontario workers and businesses, this package would support workplace safety by cracking down on bad actor employers, with mandatory minimum fines of $500,000 for corporations convicted of repeated offences within a two-year period under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The government is also proposing to expand existing roadside safety laws under the Highway Traffic Act to require motorists to slow down and move over for roadworkers, such as highway maintenance workers.
“As our government continues to bring back better jobs and bigger paycheques to Ontario, we are keeping workers healthy and safe no matter where they work: On a highway, a job site, or the shop floor,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government’s proposed sixth Working for Workers bill will introduce game-changing measures to grow Ontario’s workforce by bringing more women into the trades, cracking down on bad actors who exploit newcomers and harm workers, and introducing nation-leading cancer protections for firefighters.”
The proposed sixth Working for Workers Act and its related regulatory changes, if passed, would:
Enhance safety for roadside workers by expanding existing requirements for drivers to slow down and move over when passing emergency vehicles and tow trucks under the Highway Traffic Act to also include prescribed work-related vehicles at roadside with flashing amber lights activated (excluding construction zones with posted speed limits).
Support the safety and wellbeing of workers and their families by creating a new parental leave for parents through adoption and surrogacy so people never have to choose between being a worker or a parent; create a new 27-week job-protected long-term illness leave for workers with a serious medical condition which would be one of the longest provincial leaves in Canada; and require properly-fitting PPE for women in all sectors to bring more women into the trades. The province is also unlocking $400 million to invest in worker health and safety, including mental health and recovery, through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Improve cancer coverage for firefighters, investigators, and volunteers by removing the requirement that a firefighter’s primary-site colorectal diagnosis must be made before the age of 61, and lowering the required duration of service for primary-site kidney cancer from 20 to 10 years – the lowest duration of service in Canada.
Grow Ontario’s workforce by investing up to $1.4 billion through the Skills Development Fund to train over 1 million workers in every corner of the province, and attract more health care workers to Ontario by expanding immigration pathways for qualified health care workers.
Keep costs down for workers and businesses by giving back over $2.5 billion through rebating WSIB surpluses to hundreds of thousands of safe employers, reducing business premium rates to the lowest average level in half a century, and putting more money back into workers’ pockets by waiving the fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam. Under Premier Ford, Ontario has cut or reduced fees for each apprentice by $330, putting almost $3.6 million back into the pockets of nearly 11,000 apprentices.
Honour workers by celebrating the contributions the Golden Generation of Skilled Tradespeople who built our province into what it is today, and who are passing on their wisdom and expertise to the next generation of workers to shape Ontario’s future, by creating a new Skilled Trades Week during the first week of November.
Crack down on bad actors that exploit newcomers and harm workers by introducing new standards, fines and lifetime bans for fraudulent immigration representatives that exploit newcomers.
The proposed Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 builds on the game-changing actions across five previous Working for Workers Acts since 2021 to grow Ontario’s workforce, keep costs down for workers and businesses and support the wellbeing of workers and their families. These proposed changes are another way the government is building a brighter future for all Ontario workers and their families and ensuring our province remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Quick Facts
In October, Ontario appointed Candice White as the new Chief Executive Officer of Skilled Trades Ontario, effective November 25. Ms. White will continue to deliver on the agency’s mandate to grow Ontario's skilled trades workforce, promote the trades as a career of choice and modernize services to Ontario’s over 1.3 million skilled tradespeople and apprentices.
Ontario will launch the second round of its Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream on November 29, with over $74 million in available funding to build, expand and retrofit training facilities for workers in the trades, including construction, manufacturing technology and health care.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) allows the province to nominate individuals for permanent residence who have the skills and experience that will contribute to Ontario’s economy. The federal government makes the final decision on reviewing and approving applications for permanent residence.
To address health system capacity, Ontario has expanded pathways through the OINP for health care workers by exempting internationally educated nurses who are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario from being required to provide a bachelor’s degree to qualify for the OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams.
In 2023, Ontario nominated 2,045 health care workers, including physicians, nurses, and PSWs, through the OINP.
Quotes
"Our government has a $28 billion plan to build roads and highways, and keep our province moving. By expanding slow down, move over rules to include construction vehicles with amber lights flashing, we’re protecting the men and women building a stronger province for all of us."
- Prabmeet Sarkaria
Minister of Transportation
"The introduction of Working for Workers 6 is a significant step forward in elevating the safety of Ontario’s frontline road workers. These measures demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting those who work tirelessly to build and maintain our province’s critical infrastructure. ORBA commends Ministers Piccini and Sarkaria and looks forward to continuing our collaboration with the Ontario government to ensure every worker returns home to their families at the end of a workday."
- Walid Abou-Hamde
CEO, Ontario Road Builders Association
"This year has been pivotal for firefighter presumptive coverage legislation in Ontario. I am thrilled that today, the government announced legislative amendments addressing kidney cancer and colorectal cancer. On behalf of the OPFFA, I extend heartfelt thanks to Premier Ford and his government for these impactful changes. Reducing the required duration of employment from 20 to 10 years for kidney cancer and eliminating the 61-year age limit on presumptive eligibility for colorectal cancer are significant milestones. These important revisions are seminal and ensure that all firefighters who develop these occupational cancers while safeguarding Ontarians will have better access to the support and coverage they need."
- Greg Horton
President, Ontario Professional Firefighters Association
"The Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) applauds the Ontario Government through the leadership of Premier Ford, and David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development, for their proposed improvement to the presumptive coverage for firefighter occupational cancers. Last month, seventy-three more firefighters were inscribed on the Ontario Fallen Firefighter Memorial, a memorial that honours firefighters who have died in the line of duty and by occupational illness and now houses more than 1,000 names. This government’s commitment to the early detection and prevention of firefighter occupational cancer, and taking care of firefighters who have been diagnosed, or sadly succumbed to, occupational illness is incredibly commendable. It stands for a sincere desire to take care of those who took on the mission of taking care of others."
- Deputy Chief Rob Grimwood
President, Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs
"Firefighters put service over self each day, stepping into dangerous situations to protect their communities. We commend the Ontario government for recognizing the unique risks faced by firefighters. By introducing legislation to amend colorectal cancer presumption eligibility and kidney cancer presumption eligibility, they are taking significant steps to enhance the safety, health and wellness of our dedicated firefighters and fire investigators. These changes reflect a commitment to supporting those who selflessly serve our province."
- Robert Rutherford
President, Fire Fighters Association of Ontario
"The importance of properly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) can be easily overlooked when you can go to virtually any retailer and easily find PPE that fits your body and keeps you safe. The Working For Workers Six Act and the requirement of properly fitting PPE for women is poised to create a transformative ripple throughout the construction industry and marketplace. By prioritizing safety inclusively, we not only encourage more women to join the sector but also clearly communicate they are not merely present in construction—they are essential and embraced."
- Jennifer Khan
Vice President, Inclusive Diversity, EllisDon
"For years, women like me have had to adapt to tools, equipment and policies that weren’t designed with us in mind. Ontario’s initiative to ensure properly fitting PPE and better workplace conditions sends a strong message: we see you, we value you, and we’re building a future where women in the trades can excel safely and confidently. When we make the trades more inclusive—through properly fitting PPE, clean facilities, and parental leave—we’re not just supporting women, we’re transforming the entire industry. These changes show that Ontario values both the worker and the parent in every person, creating a stronger, safer and more welcoming workforce for everyone."
- Natasha Ferguson
Founder, A Woman’s Work
"As a parent by surrogacy, supportive policies like these show me that the government cares about my experience. The impact of this new leave is twofold: not only does it support families in accessing crucial time off to bond with their new child, it also signals to families like mine who have struggled with infertility that we are no different than anyone else."
- Baden Colt
CEO of Not My Tummy, mother by surrogacy
"Ontario's new leave for adoptive and intended parents demonstrates this government's commitment to all Ontario families, no matter how they are built. We are so pleased to see that the nearly 700 families in Ontario who welcome a child through surrogacy and adoption each year will now have the same time off work to bond with their new child as any other parents."
- Zane Colt
Board Chair, Conceivable Dreams, father by surrogacy
"The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario appreciate the progressive steps forward announced today to improve the lives of working people. From clean washrooms and proper fitting PPE, to parental leave and a notable investment in mental health over the next five years, we look forward to working with the government to implement these changes in a way that makes a real impact on workers."
- Marc Arsenault
Business Manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
"We commend Minister Piccini and the Government of Ontario for their steadfast commitment to supporting immigrants through these much-needed and long-overdue legislative measures. By establishing stronger regulations and a robust compliance regime, this proposed legislation has the potential to protect immigrants from exploitation and foster a more just and equitable immigration system that respects and values the contributions of newcomers."
- Sara Asalya
Executive Director, Newcomer Women's Services Toronto
"Foreign workers are essential to Canada’s economy, driving growth and filling critical labour shortages. Integrating immigration protections into the Workers for Workers Six Act is a commendable initiative by Ontario leaders. Safeguarding foreign workers and employers from unscrupulous immigration practices not only protects workers but also supports businesses and maintains the integrity of Ontario’s immigration system."
- Nick Simone
President and CEO, Pace LAW
"Under Premier Ford, our government is building a stronger Ontario for everyone, getting shovels in the ground on housing that families can call home, on the highways and roads that connect our communities, and the clean energy powering our economy. That means we need all hands on deck – but when women represent 29 per cent of workers in the skilled trades, it’s tying one hand behind our backs. That’s why our government is introducing first-in-Canada changes to encourage women to start a career in the skilled trades and reach their full potential. Because an economy that doesn’t work for women, doesn’t work at all."
- Patrice Barnes
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
"These proposed measures are critical in recognizing the contributions of skilled trades professionals and addressing the challenges they face, particularly for women. We fully support Ontario’s efforts to create safer, more inclusive workplaces where no parent has to choose between their career and their family."
- Candice White
CEO and Registrar, Skilled Trades Ontario
"The strength and future of Ontario relies on a skilled, safe and productive workforce. These are the men and women who power our energy sector, build public infrastructure, connect communities and move our economy forward. The new Working For Workers Six Act continues to exemplify a commitment to investing in Ontario’s skilled workforce with a focus on policy that impacts LiUNA members and their families. We welcome the leadership of Minister Piccini and the Ford government to keep costs low for workers and business, continued empowerment for women in skilled trades, immigration accountability and a focus on improved worker safety including expanding the existing Slow Down Move Over within the Ontario Highway Traffic Act. We look forward to continue working together to build, connect and strengthen the province of Ontario."
- Joseph Mancine
lliVice President and Canadian Director, LiUNA International
"Ontario’s prosperity depends on creating private sector jobs, ensuring a diverse, skilled talent pipeline and helping small businesses scale up. That’s why the Ontario Chamber shares the government’s focus on lowering the cost of doing business, removing barriers to employment and rewarding organizations that create the safe, healthy environments for their people. We look forward to the debate on this important legislation, and appreciate the commitment to collaboration with businesses and workers."
- Daniel Tisch
President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
"The Working for Workers Six bill is a testament to the Ontario government's commitment to a fair and just workplace. By strengthening protections for vulnerable immigrants, expanding leave options, prioritizing worker safety, and reforming pre-employment practices, Premier Ford and Minister Piccini are leading the way in creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all of Ontario’s working class."
- Nole Coutrouzas
VP & Business Representative, UBC Millwright Local 1916
"Nearly 40 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer are in their working years, ages 20 to 64. That means cancer often comes at a time when expenses are high and others are depending on you. There are already enough worries that come with a cancer diagnosis; wondering if you have a job to come back to shouldn't be one of them. The Government of Ontario is demonstrating strong leadership for expanding job protection for those with serious illnesses to 27 weeks. We know that cancer doesn’t wait – but your job should."
- Andrea Seale
CEO, Canadian Cancer Society
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